Merchandise display device



Aug. 15, 1961 w. T. DELL ETAL 2,996,192

' MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28. 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I uqv 'u o oui o uo o ou o juo o 24 n n n n n n n )n n n O o o o o o o o o o o o o 7 Fr nz- T INVENTORS 4 WILLIAM T. DELL T JOHN c. LEITCH BY M,

15, 1961 w. T. DELL Em 2,996,192

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o} o o o o o o o oi o o 0 1o 0 o o o o o [75 F o oi o o o o o 0 F2? I I F 0 0 0 O 0 0 O O O O I F O O INVENTORS WILLIAM T. DELL JOHN C. LEITCH BY fi 49 M Z TTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1961 w. T. DELL ETAL 2,996,192

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 -]\/]NVENTORS WILLIAM T. DELL JOHN c. LEITCH when? M,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,996,192 D MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE William T. Dell and John C. Leitch, Baltimore, Md.,

assrgnors to Samuel M. Dell & Co., Inc., a corporation of Maryland Filed Dec. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 862,104

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relates to merchandise display devices, and more particularly to a display and support device suitable for holding articles adapted to be suspended. This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 560,023 filed January 18, 1956, and now abandoned.

It is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and easily installed merchandise display device for holding articles adapted to be suspended, such as hardware and kitchen articles, and including paint brushes, brooms and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a merchandise display rack which is adapted to be supported in easily attachable and detachable relation to a supporting member such as, an apertured panel or Peg-Board.

It is another object of this invention to provide a merchandise display rack in accordance with the foregoing objects which may be readily collapsed for storage or shipping purposes.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of this invention a merchandise display rack formed of relatively thin rodlike metal members and including a pair of oppositely disposed laterally spaced side members having upper and lower end portions adapted to engage the holes of an apertured panel or Peg-Board. One or more cross brace members of the same rod-like material extend between the side members and carry a plurality of forwardly extending support arms which receive the articles to be supported. The article-support arms are inclined in a downward direction toward the apertured panel or other support. A channeled metal strip member extends between the side members to receive indicia such as price information and the like. In'one embodiment of the invention, the outer ends of the support arms are rounded to prevent the articles from falling oflt the support arms, while in a modified embodiment, the rounded portions at the outer ends of the support arms are omitted to permit the article to be supported by engagement of the end of the support arms with an aperture in the article to be supported. In one'form of the invention, the support arms are pivotally coupled to the side members so that the arms may be pivoted upwardly into a collapsed position for'shipping or storage. The pivotal connection includes an" abutment portion engageable with the respective side members to prevent pivotal movement of the support arms downwardly beyond their operative position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a merchandise display device in accordance with the invention mounted on .indicia-supporting channel strip for price information or the like is mounted at the forward portion of the device; FIG. 5 is an end elevation view of the modified device of FIG. 4 with the apertured support panel being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of display device showing the device in its collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a device of FIG. 6 showing the device in its operative position upon a support panel; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the merchandise display device of the invention is generally indicated at 10 and is supported upon an apertured support panel generally indicated at 12 having a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures 14. Apertured support panel 12 may, for example, be of the type known to the trade under the registered trademark Peg-Board. The merchandise display device 10 is formed of relatively thin rod-like metal members which are suitably connected together as by spot-welding and includes a pair of oppositely disposed or laterally spaced side members generally indicated at 15 formed of the metal rod-like material.

Each of the side members 15 includes a central portion 16 which is inclined forwardly from panel 12 from its upper to its lower end. At the upper end of central portion 16, each side member 15 is bent to provide a short horizontal portion 18 which is adapted to pass through an aperture 14 of panel 12 and which terminates in a short vertical portion 20 which engages the rear surface of panel 12. At the lower end of central portion 16, each side member 15 includes a horizontal base portion 22 substantially longer than the upper horizontal portion 18 and having a free end adapted to pass through an aperture 14. A rod-like cross brace member 24 extends between the lower horizontal portions 22 of the oppositely disposed side members 15 to serve as a structural reinforcement and also to limit the inward movement of lower horizontal portions 18, thereby spacing the lower end of central portion 16 forwardly of panel 12. A pair of additional vertically spaced cross rod reinforcing members 26 and 28 are rigidly connected, as by spot welding, to the outer surface of central portions 16 of the oppositely disposed side members.

A plurality of article support arms generally indicated at 30 are rigidly attached to cross rods 26 and 28. Each article support arm 30 includes a vertical portion 32 which is spot-welded to the rear surface of cross rods 26 and 28 and a forwardly extending portion 34 which is bent substantially perpendicularly to vertical portion 32 at the upper end of portion 32 and which terminates at its outer end in an eye or hook portion 36.

. In order to support an article such as a paint brush, for example, the article support arms .30 are arranged in spaced pairs. The support arms are inclined downwardly toward panel 12 due to the inclination of the side members 15. The downward inclination of the article support arms 30 tends to cause the supported articles, such as paint brushes A, to move by gravity to the rear toward panel 12, thereby minimizing any tendency of the articles to fall off the display device. Furthermore, the hook portion 36 at the forward end of each of the support arms 30 serves as an abutment which helps to prevent the brush or other article which is positioned most forwardly from falling off the forward end of the support arm 30. A plurality of articles, such as brushes A, may be supported between each pair of adjacent arms 30.

When a merchandise display device of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3 is used for supporting paint brushes, for example, the bristle end of the brush is positioned upwardly, with the handle of the brush extending between'two spaced support arms 30 and with the brush being supported by engagement of the shoulder of the brush handle with the upper edges of the adjacent arms 30.

To support indicia such as price information and the like, a metal channel strip 38 extends between the central portions 16 of the opposite side members 15 just above the lower cross rod 28.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the merchandise display device generally indicated at 10 is mounted on the apertured panel or Peg-Board 12 by passing end portions 18 and 20 at the upper end of each side member 15 through an aperture 14 and by inserting the lower horizontal portion 22 of each side member 15 through an aperture 14 until horizontal cross member 24 abuts against the forward surface of panel 12. This mounting arrangement provides a sturdy and secure support for the display device. However, if desired, fastening means such as a friction fastener generally indicated at 40 in FIG. 3 may be used to prevent unintended movement of each lower horizontal portion 22 out of its corresponding aperture 14. The friction fastener 40 is provided with an aperture adapted to receive the end of rod portion 22 and also includes portions 42 which bear with a spring action against the surface of rod portion 22 to maintain fastener 40 in position.

The modified merchandise display device shown in FIGS. 4 and is generally similar to the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 just described and includes central side portions generally indicated at 46 having upper and lower end portions 48 and 50 which engage apertures 14 of panel 12. The modified display device 44 also includes cross members 52 and 54 which extend between and are welded to the central portions of the respective side members 45, and a cross rod 56 which is welded to the lower horizontal end portion 50 of each side member 46. The modified article display device 44 also includes a plurality of article support arms generally indicated at 58 each having a vertical portion 60 which is welded to the rear surface of the cross rods 52 and 54 and a forwardly extending portion 62 substantially perpendicular to vertical portion 60 which terminates at its forward edge in a short vertical portion or abutment 64. The channeled metal strip 66 for receiving price information or other indicia extends across the front of article display device 44 and is welded to the forward surfaces of the portions 64 of the plurality of support arms 58.

In FIGS. 6-8 inclusive, a modified form of the display device is disclosed which is so constructed as to permit the device to be collapsed for shipping or storage purposes. The FIGS. 6-8 embodiment includes a pair of horizontally spaced side members indicated generally at 70 having the same shape as side members 15 of the FIGS. 1-5 embodiment and including a medial portion 72, an offset upper end portion 74 and a rod portion 76 bent backwardly from the lower end of medial portion 72 at an acute angle. A first cross brace rod 78 is welded at each end to the respective rod portions 76 at a location where cross brace 78 may abut the front surface of the support panel S as best seen in FIG. 8. A suitable number of additional cross brace rods 80, 82 are welded at each end to the respective side members to provide the necessary degree of rigidity to the assembled structure. In addition to cross braces 78, 80 and 82 a pair of display panels 84 and 86 are welded at each end to the respective side members 70 to provide a mounting upon which display cards containing advertising material and price may be supported.

At a location between display panels 84 and 86, a pair of U-shaped clips 88 are welded to the respective side members and project forwardly from the side members to define a pivotal support for receiving a cross rod 90. Cross rod 90 projects outwardly at each end through the opening between clips 88 and the forward side of side member 72, and the projecting portion of cross rod 90 is bent backwardly to pass in front of the forward side of side member 70 as at 92. A plurality of brush supporting arms 94 are welded at spaced positions along cross rod 90 to project forwardly from the assembly when inturned ends 92 of cross rod are engaged with the front side of side member 70. As best seen in FIG. 8, arms 94 when in the operative position defined by the engagement of inturned ends 92 with side member 70 project forwardly of the device in a direction substantially normal to medial portions 72 of side member 70. In this embodiment, arms 94 are located to support brushes having bores through the upper end of the brush handle, hence arms 94 are not provided with the retaining formation 36 as in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Supporting arms 94 are welded to cross rod 90 at the lower surface of the rod, hence upon pivoting cross rod 90 upwardly toward the position shown in FIG. 6, the supporting arms 94 may be swung into a position extending substantially parallel to medial portions 72 whereby the front-to-rear dimension of the assembly is substantially reduced to facilitate storage and shipment.

While the structures described above have been disclosed in combination with Peg-Board support panels, offset portions 20 or 74 and the location of cross rods 24 or 78 are adapted for use with other types of support panels of thickness greater than the /s inch thickness of Peg-Board. In the case where the support panel is already in place, the panel may be bored to receive the display device offset portions 20 and 74 and cross rods 24 or 78 being adapted for use with panels of thickness up to A inch.

While we have described exemplary embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting and the true scope of our invention is that defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. For use in combination with a support member having a plurality of vertically and horizontally aligned apertures therethrough', a merchandise display device comprising a pair of horizontally spaced like side members formed of rod-like stock, each of said side members having an olfset upper end portion insertable through an upper aperture in the support member for projection into engagement with the back surface of the support member, a lower end portion insertable into a lower aperture in said support member aligned with said upper aperture to project substantially horizontally from the front of said support member when said upper and said lower end portions are inserted in the respective apertures, a medial portion integral with and extending between said upper and said lower end portions, abutment means on the lower end portions of said members engageable with the front surface of said support member to limit the extent of entry of the lower end portions into said lower apertures to support said medial portions of said side members in parallel downwardly and outwardly inclined relationship from the respective upper end portions, parallel transverse reinforcing elements extending between said side elements, one of said transverse reinforcing elements comprising a rod-like member pivotally supported at each of its ends upon the respective side members, an article supporting projection carried by said one of said transverse elements and projecting outwardly from said support member in a direction substantially normal to the medial portions of said side members, and stop means on said rod-like member for preventing pivotal movement of said one of said transverse elements beyond an operative position wherein said projection extends normal to the medial portions of said side members, said rodlike member being pivotal from said operative position in a direction to move said projection upwardly into substantial parallelism with said medial portions of said side members.

2. For use in combination with a support member having a plurality of vertically and horizontally aligned apertures therethrough; a merchandise display device comprising a pair of horizontally spaced like side members formed of rod-like stock, each of said side members hav- 5 ing a medial portion, an integral upper end portion insertable through an upper aperture in the support member for projection into engagement with the back surface of the member, an integral rod portion projecting at an acute angle from the lower end of said medial portion insertable into a lower aperture in said panel aligned with said upper aperture, a rod-like cross brace member rigidly secured to and extending horizontally between the rod portions of said side members and adapted to engage the front surface of said member to maintain the lower ends of said medial portions at a location spaced outwardly from the front surface of said member, said medial portions of said side members being inclined upwardly in parallel relationship from their respective rod members to their respective upper end portions, a second horizontally extending rod member supported at each end upon said side members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of article supporting arms fixedly mounted upon said second rod-like member, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said second member relative to said side members between a normal operative position wherein said arms project outwardly of said device in a direction normal to the medial portions of said side members and a collapsed position wherein said arms project upwardly from said second rod-like member in substantially parallel relationship to said medial portions of said side members.

3. A merchandise display device as defined in claim 2 including a pair of horizontally extending display panels mounted upon and extending between the medial portions of said side members at respective locations above and below said second rod-like member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 19,907 Morse June 17, 1890 568,199 Keeler Sept. 22, 1896 1,689,988 White Oct. 30, 1928 2,247,497 Howell July 1, 1941 2,538,958 Augenfeld Jan. 23, 1951 2,634,865 Geheb Apr. 14, 1953 2,766,958 Levy Oct. 16, 1956 2,872,145 Goldsholl Feb. 3, 1959 

